Sign



Nov. 11, 2941. M, F, [REY 4 2,261,935-

' SIGN Filed June 24, 1940 Patented Nov. 11, 1941 UNHTED STATS 3 Claims.

This invention relates to signs and more particularly to metallic signs.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved metallic signcharacterized by lightness, ease and cheapness of manufacture,durability, and of a finish suggestive of massiveness found ordinarilyonly in the most expensive types of solid cast metal signs.

The invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement andcombinations of parts and the method of producing such arrangements, ashereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

One sheet of drawings accompanies this specification as part thereof, inwhich like reference characters indicate like parts throughout.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the core or base of the improved sign at anintermediary stage of manufacture.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a complete sign exemplifying the presentinvention.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross section taken on line 33 of Figure 2 andindicating diagrammatically one step in the manufacture.

Among the most attractive types of signs now in use are those cast fromsolid metal, brass, bronze, aluminum or the like with the lettering inhigh relief. Such signs enjoy favor for interior use on desks inofiices, as markers, and as indicator's in parks, cemeteries and thelike but are so expensive by reason both of the material required andthe processes involved in their manufacture, that they are rarely, ifever, used for ordinary advertising purposes.

Aside from the high cost of such cast metal signs, their weightconstitutes an almost fatal objection in connection with ordinaryadvertising purposes.

The sign of the present invention creates the effect of the mostsubstantial and expensive type of solid cast metal signs but uses only afractional part of the metal, is very light and readily adapted forquite general use for advertising purposes.

In the advertising field, it is highly desirable to combine with signsof standardized manufacture and uniformity of display certainindividual, distinctive features particularly appropriate to theimmediate place of display. Thus, for instance, advertising signs forpopular trade-mark brand goods will always show the trade-mark andprobably other features in the identical form, accompanied, however, bythe name of the particular store over which the sign is displayed. Suchsigns would, if cast from solid metal, re-

'ATENT orrlcs quire an individual treatment and the cost would betotally prohibitive.

In accordance with the present invention, the sign includes a base orcore I, which may be formed of wood, fiber-board, papier-mach, plasteror other non-metallic material. These cores may be embossed withcharacters 2 in large numbers, such characters 2 representing thestandardized, uniform display to be shown on all of the signs.Individual characters 3 will then be selectively positioned on the coreto make the particular name or representation distinctive of theparticular place of display, the characters 3 being formed of similarmaterial to that used in the core l and secured to core I in anydesirable manner at that stage of assembly.

Over the core containing the embossed characters 2 and the selectivelyassembled characters 3 will then be deposited by any suitable processmetal to provide a continuous, seamless, homogeneous layer of metal.Among the processes which may be utilized for depositing this metallayer is one by which molten metal is sprayed, as bya sprayer 5,indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 3, and in which the molten particlesof metal coalesce and form a homogeneous layer of metal on the surfaceagainst which the spray is directed. Electrolysis also provides anothermeans by which such a layer may be deposited on the core.

In accordance with the present invention this homogeneous metal layercompletely surrounds the core, as illustrated at 4 in Fig. 3, and thusprovides a seamless container entirely enclosing the core with itsassembled characters with a metal wall of sufficient thickness toprovide rigidity to the core and permit the grinding or buifing of thehigh relief characters, and thus results in a sign closely simulating ineffect a solid cast metal sign but having the characteristics ofsatisfactory rigidity, great lightness, relative cheapness both in theamount and cost of materials used and ease of manufacture. Signsembodying the present invention closely simulate in appearance genuinesolid cast metal signs.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim:

1. A sign comprising a relatively light nonmetallic fibrous core havingcharacters formed thereon in relief, and a homogeneous seamless casingof metal formed thereon and completely enclosing said core andcharacters of sufficient thickness to give rigidity and permitvpolishing to give the effect of a cast metal sign.

2. The method of making a sign comprising forming a base of non-metallicmaterial with characters in relief integral therewith, securing otherselected characters to the base in relief, encasing the entire base withassembled characters with a homogeneous seamless metallic layer 5 ofsufficient thickness to hold said base and assembled characters andpermit polishing relief character faces to give the effect of a castmetal sign.

3. Themethod of making a sign comprising 10 MACON FOSTER IRBY.

